Giulio Gabbiani

TL;DR: It is clear that the understanding of the myofibroblast — its origins, functions and molecular regulation — will have a profound influence on the future effectiveness not only of tissue engineering but also of regenerative medicine generally.

TL;DR: It is shown that the subcutaneous administration of transforming growth factor- beta 1 to rats results in the formation of a granulation tissue in which alpha-SM actin expressing myofibroblasts are particularly abundant, suggesting that TGF beta 1 plays an important role in my ofibroblast differentiation during wound healing and fibrocontractive diseases by regulating the expression of alpha- SM actin in these cells.

TL;DR: A better knowledge of the molecular mechanisms conducive to the appearance of differentiated myofibroblasts in each pathological situation will be useful for the understanding of fibrosis development in different organs and the planning of strategies aiming at their prevention and therapy.

TL;DR: Double immunofluorescent studies carried out with anti-alpha sm-1 and anti- desmin antibodies in several organs revealed a heterogeneity of stromal cells.

TL;DR: The demonstration that fibroblastic cells acquire contractile features during the healing of an open wound, thus modulating into myofibroblasts, has open a new perspective in the understanding of mechanisms leading to wound closure and fibrocontractive diseases.